Safety automatic stop attachment for elevators



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

. 0. BRUGGEB; SAFETY AUTOMATIC STOP ATTAGHMENT FORELEVATORSQ No. 291,838. Patented Jan. 8, 1884.

N. PETERS Phnle-Lilhugnph'r, Wiuhingfnn. D. C.

(No Model.) I I 2 sheets Sheet 2.v O. BRUGGER.

SAFETY AUTOMATIC STOP ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATORS.

No. 291,838. Patented Jan. 8, 1884;

llnrrnn Starts PATENT @rrrcn.

OSCAR BRUGGER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SAFETY AUTOMATIC STOP ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,838, dated January 8, 1884.

(N0 model.)

To all whontit may concern Be it known that I, Osciin Bnuecrnn, a citizen of Baden, Germany, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invent ed certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Automatic Stop Attachments for Elevators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

The purpose of my invention is to provide safety stop machinery for arresting the descent and securely holding elevator cars platforms, and other hoisting devices in the event of accident; and it consists in securing to elevatorcars, in a suitable and substantial manner, an automatic safety stop mechanism that will, in the event of the breaking or giving way of the suspension and hoisting cables,or any part of the machinery or its parts, instantly arrest and securely hold the car.

It also consists in so constructing and adjusting the catch-dogs employed in the stop mechanism that when thrown out to arrest the descent of the car they will be in position to exert their greatest strength and impinge the least upon the car.

It also consists in the mode of suspending elevator-cars by a free-link cable or chain from a suspended cross-beam secured by suitable toggle at the end of the suspending and hoisting cables; also, in connecting the long arm of the upper catch-dogs by link-chains to suitable adjustable toggle in a suspended crossbeam; also, in the mode of connecting the sets of cateh-dogs on each side by a connecting-rod governed by a spring, so that the catch-dogs on each side of the car will be forced to act simultaneously.

It also consists in the mode of bracing ele vator-cars to receive the shock without injury.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an elevatorcar, showing a suspending and hoisting cable, intervening cross -beam and connecting-toggl e, a link car-suspender and connecting-toggles, the adjustable link-toggle for connecting the stop mechanism with the cross-beam, the lower and upper catch-dogs, their journal-bearings and the vertical connecting-rods, toothed rack on each side of the car for arresting the car in its descent, the guiding frictionwheels, and their axle-bearings. Fig. 2 is the upper catchdog. Fig. 3 is the lower catch-dog. Fig. at is a vertical cross-section of the elevator-car, showing the vertical elevator-ways and toothed rack, the hoisting and suspending cable, interposing cross-beam, linked car-suspender, the adjustable link-toggle connection for the stop mechanism, the adjustable dog-connecting rod, its spiral spring, and seats for spiral springs, one on the inside of the car and the other on the connecting-rod. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragment of another vertical cross-seetion of the elevator-car, showing the adjustable connectingrod its spiral spring and spring-seats, the lower catch-dog, its bearings and connections, and the toothed rack-catch. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the suspended cross-beam, showing the double car-suspending toggle and the adjustable link-toggles for engaging the catch-dogs. Fi 7 is the adjustable connecting-rod for connecting the sets of upper and lower catch-dogs together.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The elevator car or platform A may be constructed after any approved pattern and on. any approved plan. So, too, the elevator-ways g 9 may be fashioned after any known or approved style. I prefer, however, in my device to have the toothed racks b I) cut distinctly, built substantially, and securely attached to substantial vertical beams, (indicated by (Z in Fig. 5.) The beams (1 may be broad enough to provide ways for the friction-roller guides or wheels kit, as indicated in Fig. 4; or these parts may be independent of each other. whichever experience may indicate as the most feasible and economical. Single or dott ble suspending and hoisting cables h may be employed. Vertically one below the other in the upper and lower edges of the elevator-car A,on each side,and arranged and substantially journaled in suitablebearings at points t t", which also serve as fulcrums therefor, are two sets of lever catch-dogs, a 0 and a c, the outer edges,c,of which are cut at such an angle that when the catch-dogs are thrown out by being released at the other ends they will fall naturally into and engage evenly with the teeth on the racks g g, and the lower ends of the dogs ICO a a and c c are so shaped that the strain upon the catch-dogs, in the event of an accident, will be directed against the stronger and most substantial lines of the elevator-car A, so that a loaded as well as a light car, being checked almost instantaneously, can be held where caught, and as additional security against ac eident to heavy elevators, I propose to extend metal braces (not shown) from the foot of the lower dogsupports, '5 i, to an intersecting point under the car. The longer arms of the catch-dogs a a terminate in loops a, carrying loose rings a, by which they engage toggles 0,

having bearings in the supporting cross-beams B, where they are adjusted and regulated by set or thumb screws 0. Between the fulcrum i and loop a of the dogs a a, preferably nearer the former than the latter, is a pivotal bearing, 1, where the vertical connecting-rod m is pivoted and acts as a counterpoise. The inner end of the eatchdogs c c is about the same length as the outer end, but terminates abruptly, to afford a considerable point of resist ance in the event of an accident, and protrudes on its under side sufficient to provide a pivotaljournal-bearing, p, at such a point that a positive angle is formed by the lower edge, e, of the dog. The fulcrum-point t, and the pivotal point p, and the upper protuberance, 1), of the dog 0 are arranged, when required for use, so as to fall into a step or pocket, (not shown,) to aid in supporting the strain upon it. The lower end of the connecting-rod m is pivoted to the dog 0 at the point p, and so by passing through the interior of the car, or through passages formed in the sides of the car, the connecting-rods m unite together the dogs a c and a 0, respectively, causing them to move simultaneously and reciprocally.

The connecting-rod m is a simple metal rod provided at each end with straps to embrace the journal-pins Z and p in the dogs a and 0, respectively, and with a seat, m, for a spiral spring, q, placed thereon, and an adjustingscrew, m", by which the relative position of the two dogs a and c is adjusted.

- Secured on theinner walls of the elevator, on the opposite sides, are two perforated projeeting lugs, r 1*, which serve as fixed seats for the spiral. springs (1 q. The connecting-rods m m, mounting each a spiral spring, (1, are passed vertically up through loose sleeves in the sides of the elevator-car A, and secured, respectively, by their opposite ends, through suitable connecting-journals at the points Z and p, in catch-dogs a and c and a and c at the top and bottom of the car, respectively, so that the upper and lower catclrdog on each side of the elevator-car will be connected together and made to work reciprocally. The spring q should be of a tension almost, if not quite, sufficient to sustain the weight of the complete ear, and the lower end should rest in a proper seat in a protuberance, m, on the connecting-rod m, and the upper end rest in a suitable seat formed in the protuberance r, secured to the car, so that when the end n of the lever a is released the spring (1 will immediately and with great force throw the catching short arm of the dogs a and c and a and c outward into the teeth of the toothed rack b on both sides, whereby the car will instantly be caught at four points, two at top and two at bottom.

The cross-beam B is a substantial piece or frame of metal having suflieient tensile strength to sustain any weight that can be putinto or onto the elevator-car, and may have any form desired, though I prefer to make it in the form of a disk, so that it will serve as a sheild to the top of the elevator-ear, in the event the heavy suspending and hoisting cable h should break and fall upon it. The cross beam B is provided at top and bottom or near the center with toggle-connections f f, respectively, the former for forming connection with the h oisting-cables, and the latterfor formin g connection with the elevator-car A through a link-cable, G, of great tensile strength and made of free links, so that the moment the strain is removed from it the link-chain C will fall into itself. The cross-beam B is also provided nearits outer edge, at points opposite to each other, withtoggle-connections 0 0, adjusted by set-screws 0 0, through which connections are formed, by means of loose connecting-loops n, with the long arm of the catch-dogs a a, and the connections a n and link-cable O are so adjusted that when the link-cable C is drawn taut the long arms of the dogs a a will be raised high enough to retire the several catchdogs a a and c c to within recesses in the sides of the car; but immediately the cable h, or any part above the cross-beam B, gives way the force of the springs q q will throw the catchdogs outward and cause them to engage with the toothed racks b b-that is to say, the several catch-dogs c c a 0 having been properly j ournaled in their seats 011 the car and the seats on each side connected together by the connecting-rods 121, provided with a spring, (1', adjusted between rests 777/ and 1-, the ends a of the long arm of the catch-dogs c a are triced up to the cross-beam B, suspended from the end of the suspending and hoisting cable, so that when the linked cable or chain by which the car is suspended from the cross-beam B is drawn taut the catch-dogs a c a 0 will be drawn in out of the wz but the instant the cross-beamis freed from the suspending-cable, or anything else gives way so as to free the upper end of the catch-dogs ac, the springs q exert their power and immediately throw the dogs outward and force them to instantly e11- gage with the toothed rack b.

The action of this device is so positive and affirmative that almost the very instant the catch-dogs are released they engage with the toothed rack, so that the car can under no cireumstances fall one-fourth of its depth, and in addition to being arrested by the catch-dogs a a, c c, it is steadied in its vertical position by the friction-rollers k k, also arranged in l g, constructed and arranged substantially as sets above and below the center of the car on both sides of the toothed rack b.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I esteem as novel, and desire to protect on the lower edges, catchdogs a a and bearby Letters Patent. is

1. Automatic stop mechanism consisting of an upper and lower combined catch-dog and lever-arm arranged in and secured by suitable journal-bearings on each side of the elevator car, connecting rods and tensionsprings, also secured by and operated in suitable bearings, as shown, and the whole attached to and held in abeyance by a common hoisting-cable, and so arranged that in event of being released, through accident or other- 'wisc, the catch-dogs will severally and simul taneonsly be thrown automatically into position for arresting the descent of the elevatorcar, substantially as shown and described.

2. Automatic stop mechanism for arresting the descent of elevator cars, in the event of accident, comprising sets of combined upper and lower lever-arms and catclrdogs arranged in and secured by suitable journalbearings on each side of the elevator-ear, and united by connecting-rods, and actuated by tension-springs, as shown, the whole attached to and held in abeyance by the hoisting-cable and the catch-dogs, so constructed and arranged, on being set free, as to engage with toothed racks on each side, as indicated, substantially as shown and pointed out.

3. In an automatic safety stop mechanism for arresting the descent ofelevator-cars, catchdogs a and cand a and 0, connecting-rods m, spiral springs q, spring-rests m anda', connectinglinks a, toggle 0, and cross-beam B, constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

4. In an automatic safety stop mechanism for arresting the descent of elevatorcars, catchdogs a and c and c and c, connecting-rods m, spiral springs q, spring-rests m and 1'', con necting-link a, toggle 0, and cross-beam B, in combination with the elevator-car and connecting-link cable 0, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

5. In an automatic safety stop mechanism for arresting the descent of elevator-cars, catchdogs a and 0 and a and c, connecting-rods m, spiral springs q, spring-restsm and r, conneetinglinks a, toggle 0, and cross-beam B, in combination with toothed racks b b andways shown and described.

6. In an automatic safety stop mechanism for arresting the descent of elevator-cars, in combination, catch-dogs c c and bearings z" i ings 011 the upper edge of an elevator-car, connecting-rods m spiral springs q, spring-seats m 1', links a, toggles 0, adjusting-screws 0 o, cross-beam l3, suspending-cable h, link-cable 0, and elevator-ear, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

7. The method of suspending elevator-cars by a free-link cable or chain from a suspended cross-beam, substantially as shown and described.

8. The method of mounting, connecting, and operating the catch-dogs in a device for automatically arresting the descent of elevatorcars, substantially as shown and described.

9. The truncated catch dog a, continued into a long curved arm,forn1ing an obtuse angle therewith, and provided with suitable journal-bearings for making necessary connections, and so constructed as to receive the shock of a fall in a line nearly vertical to its axis, substantially as shown and described.

10. The catch-dog 0, having a short leverarm, and provided with suitable journal-bearings for making connections, and constructed to receive the shock of a fall at nearly a vertical line, substantially as shown and described.

11. The connectingrod m, having a springseat, m, and provided with a screw, m at one end, by and through which the relative position of the several sets of catch-dogs can be regulated, substantially as shown and described.

12. Cross beam B, having toggle-connections f f, for suspending and hoisting elevator-cars, and with toggle-connections 0, provided with adjustingscrews 0, for engaging and holding neutral safety catch dogs, as shown, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR BRUGGER.

Witnesses:

M. T. DENT, HENRY GLASSIE. 

